"When the city makes choices like this, council has made to spend $3 billion on a biomass fuel plant and a water treatment plant, both of which we don't use and we don't need," Adler said.

"Over the last four years, each and every year, the council has either lowered or held your tax rate flat, even though your bill may have gone up," Martinez said. We went back out to the voters, and they saw what could happen when we gave people more information and a voice," she (Sheryl Cole) said.austin.twcnews.com/content/news/304615/mayoral-candidates-tackle-austin-affordability-at-forum/“I think the challenges that we’re going to have are pretty much the same, whether it’s affordability, transportation or water,” said Sheryl Cole, mayoral candidate and current mayor pro tem.“We have gone from being the most affordable…to being the most expensive city, and that doesn’t happen by accident,” said candidate Steve Adler.“I believe that by supporting our children, we’re going to protect the great nature and soul of this city,” said candidate Randall Stephens.